Murray brothers give Britain 2-1 lead in Davis Cup final

The Murrays’ past two doubles matches had been tense, as they came from a set down to defeat the French pairing of Nicolas Mahut and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in squarterfinal at Queen’s Club, while the semifinal against Australia in Glasgow, Scotland, saw them win a five-setter against Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth that was one of the most entertaining afternoons of the tennis year.

While brothers and sisters throughout the land were spending their Saturdays going to the football or heading to the supermarket, the Murray clan was gathering in the Flanders Expo Centre in Ghent to watch a singular pair of Scottish siblings bring Britain to the brink of one of the most remarkable chapters in the 115-year history of the Davis Cup.

The two-time major champion was not underestimating the world number 16, however – saying that “Goffin is a world-class player and with the crowd behind him it will be a hard match”.

It was something of a surprise given Goffin has only won two tour-level doubles matches in his career and had not played doubles in Davis Cup since a match against Britain in 2012.

The brothers fought off seven break points in the key fourth game of the fourth set and cruised from that point as the Belgian spirit sagged.

‘It’s fantastic to win (in the doubles), but I don’t feel that sort of high right now, ‘ said Andy after a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Goffin and Steve Darcis. “I know how good a player Goffin is”, he said. The fifth break point of the match was the really big one, though, engineered after after a point which had to be replayed after a Murray volley which landed flush on the line was mistakenly called out.

The brass band went through its repertoire and the Murray boys saluted them and high-fived Britain’s support team. But as a team we have to believe, we have to stand up, we have to fight.

“There’s a huge task ahead of us”, he said.

Britain’s star turn has won all 10 of his Davis Cup matches this year: an 11th would seal a team triumph that seemed scarcely credible when GB faced relegation to the Davis Cup’s fourth division just five years ago. He jumped around wildly, clenching his fist and pointing it at British supporters.

Once the fans had left to celebrate in Ghent’s many watering holes, the Murrays spoke of what it all means to be brothers in arms in the pressure-cooker of a Davis Cup final. The Murrays will never again play a set as intense as the third set of this match. “So have to enjoy that”. They got there in the end, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, so forget the Bryans, as it’s the Murrays who have been the predominant brothers in tennis this year. Goffin also clinched the set, hitting an off-balance volley while bending down and with his racket next to his shoulder. Andy Murray fired consecutive service winners to make it 1-1 despite some inspired play by the Belgians.

Andy had to save a break point in the ninth game before a missed smash from Darcis gave Britain a set point.

The Murray brothers appeared the edgier duo and Andy was forced to fend off a break point with an ace to hold for a 5-4 lead.

“Physically I’m feeling good”, he added. “They did very, very well today”. That final match could go either way, with the teams’ second singles players looking evenly matched.